Carline Ray facts for kids

Carline Ray (1925–2013) was a talented jazz musician and singer. She played many instruments and had a beautiful voice. She was also a member of a famous all-female band called the International Sweethearts of Rhythm.

Her Amazing Life

Early Life and Education

Carline Ray was born in Manhattan, New York, on April 21, 1925. Her father, Elisha Ray, was also a musician who played the horn.

When she was just 16 years old, Carline started studying at the Juilliard. This is a very famous music school. She learned to play the piano and to write music there. She graduated from Juilliard in 1946. Later, in 1956, she earned another degree in singing from the Manhattan School of Music.

A Sweetheart of Rhythm

After finishing her studies at Juilliard, Carline joined a special band called the International Sweethearts of Rhythm. This was an all-female jazz band. In the band, Carline played the rhythm guitar and also sang.

After the Sweethearts band broke up, Carline continued to play music. She played guitar and sang for Erskine Hawkins. She also performed in a group with another former Sweetheart, Pauline Braddy.

Working with Music Legends

Carline Ray worked with many famous musicians. She sang backup for popular singers like Patti Page and Bobby Darin. She also performed in choirs led by the famous conductor Leonard Bernstein.

She recorded music with the jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams. Carline also worked with other well-known artists such as Skitch Henderson, Marian McPartland, and Sy Oliver. In 1997, Carline started her own group called Jazzberry Jam. She formed this group with pianist Bertha Hope and percussionist Paula Hampton.

Family and Later Years

In 1956, Carline Ray married a musician named Luis Russell. Their daughter, Catherine Russell, also became a jazz singer, just like her mom!

Carline appeared in a documentary film in 2011 called The Girls in the Band. This movie was about women in jazz music. In the year she passed away, Carline released her first album as a lead singer. It was called Vocal Sides. Her daughter Catherine helped produce this album.

Carline Ray died on July 18, 2013, in Manhattan. She was 88 years old. She was buried in November 2013 after a service at St Peter's Catholic Church.

Awards and Recognition

Carline Ray received several important awards for her musical talents:

• She was one of the first people to receive the International Women In Jazz Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996. This award recognized her as a "Living Legend."
• In 2005, she received the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival Award from the Kennedy Center.
• She received another International Women In Jazz Award in 2008.